An apparatus for vacuum vibro-compression of mixes arranged on a support comprises a press (12) provided with a press ram (18) having vibratory devices (22), and a pressing surface (16). The press (12) comprises a vacuum bell (24). The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises an entry chamber (44) in the region of the inlet opening (36) of the bell (24) having a first opening (48) which can be controllably closed and opened with a first gate (50) adapted to prevent fluid communication between the outside and inside of the entry chamber (44) and a second gate (52) able to be controllably opened and closed, in the region of the inlet opening (36) of the bell (24), and adapted to prevent fluid communication between entry chamber (36) and the inside of the bell (24) or to allow the passage of the support with the mix from the entry chamber (36) to the inside of the bell (24). The apparatus also comprises an exit chamber (46) in the region of the outlet opening (38), having a third gate (54) provided in the region of the outlet opening (38), able to be controllably closed and opened and adapted to prevent fluid communication between the inside of the bell (24) and the inside of the exit chamber (46) or to allow the passage of the support with the compacted slab from inside the bell (24) to the exit chamber (46), and a second opening (56) which can be controllably closed and opened with a fourth gate (58) which is adapted to prevent fluid communication between the inside of the exit chamber and the outside. A method for vacuum vibro-compression of mixes contained inside a mould, comprising the steps of: inserting a support with the mix inside the entry chamber (44) and closing the first gate (50); generating a given vacuum value inside the entry chamber (44) with the first gate (50) and the second gate (52) closed; opening the second gate (52) and inserting the support inside the bell (24) where a given vacuum value is already present; closing the second gate (52) and performing vacuum vibro-compression of the mix with the second and third gates (52, 54) closed; once vibro-compression has been completed, opening the third gate (52) and transferring the support into the exit chamber (46) where a given vacuum value is already present; closing the third gate (54), restoring the atmospheric pressure inside the exit chamber (46); opening the fourth gate (58) and di

Embodiments described herein relate to a composite structures or sandwiches that may have a relatively high bending stiffness and may have a relatively light weight as well as related methods of use and fabrication of the composite sandwiches. For example, a composite sandwich may include a core structure sandwiched between a two composite skins.

A method of manufacturing a composite part having a curved or radiused corner to avoid wrinkling or bridging of outer-most composite plies during consolidation and cure, including laying up composite material on male or female tooling to form two flanges extending at a first angle relative each other and a curved or radiused corner extending between the two flanges. Then the method may include changing an orientation of one or both of the flanges of the composite material, such that the two flanges extend at a second included angle relative each other. The second included angle is smaller than the first angle. The method may also include a step of consolidating the composite material before, after, or during the step of changing the orientation of the composite material to the second angle, as well as a step of curing the composite material oriented at the second angle.

Embodiments described herein relate to a composite structures or sandwiches that may have a relatively high bending stiffness and may have a relatively light weight as well as related methods of use and fabrication of the composite sandwiches. For example, a composite sandwich may include a core structure sandwiched between a two composite skins.

An ultrasound probe of the present invention has a piezoelectric element and a backing material disposed on one direction side with respect to the piezoelectric element, the backing material containing heat conductive particles. The backing material has a heat conductivity of 2.0 W/mk or more, and the content of the heat conductive particles is less than 30 vol % based on the total volume of the backing material.

A decorative laminated sheet with excellent scratch resistance that is capable of adhering to a polyolefin-based resin substrate, and that is a hardly adhesive material, through an extrusion method, a vacuum-pressure molding method, a mold integrated injection molding method, and the like. The decorative laminated sheet includes a surface layer, a design layer, and an adhesive layer containing a polymer having a propylene unit of 85 mass % or more, in that order.

According to one implementation, a preform shaping apparatus includes a rigid mold and a pressurizing jig. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of a preform which has been shaped. The pressurizing jig presses an unshaped material of the preform to the rigid mold at different positions and different timings. Further, according to one implementation, a method of shaping a preform includes: producing the shaped preform by pressing an unshaped material of the preform to a rigid mold at different positions and different timings; and using a pressurizing jig for pressing the material. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of the preform. The pressurizing jig is adapted to apply pressures on the material at the different positions and the different timings.

A high flexural strength high density environmental friendly artificial glass composite slab and the preparation method, spherical glass sand or spherical glass powder, filler, unsaturated resin, curing agent, coupling agent, pigment paste and toner. The glass sand or the glass powder has high hardness, good light transmittance, and a smooth surface without pores. The glass powder, filler powder and a hollow glass microspheres fill the gap among the spherical glass sand or the spherical glass powder, and mutually mesh with each other to form a high-density structure. The resulting glass composite slab has the advantages of high strength, high density, wear resistance, shining gloss and good light transmittance, while the surface is smooth and is not likely to be subjected to staining, and it is environmental friendly, non-toxic and non-radioactive.

There is provided an apparatus for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising: (a) a main body (110) comprising a first opening (112), a second opening and a hollow bore (116) connecting the first opening (112) with the second opening, the hollow bore (116) being adapted to receive a separation foil shaped to cover at least a part of the hollow bore surface; (b) a piston (120) adapted to fit moveably into the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil; (c) a base plate (130) comprising a protrusion, wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to be inserted into the first opening (112) in such a manner that the protrusion extends into a part of the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil, and wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to transfer heat from a heating unit to a thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion (132); (d) a vacuum connector (142) adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; (e) a lid (140) adapted to fit moveably into the second opening and adapted to apply a force to the piston (120) when the vacuum connector (142) is connected to the vacuum source such that the piston (120) applies a compressing force to the thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion. There are further provided a method and a system for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape.

A method for manufacturing a solar panel includes preparing a laminated body including a plastic protection cover that is light-transmissive and is curved in a convex manner, a flat plastic back cover, a photovoltaic battery cell, and an encapsulant that holds the photovoltaic battery cell in an encapsulated state, mounting the laminated body on a laminating jig such that the back cover abuts the laminating jig, and heating the laminated body with the laminating jig and compression-bonding the laminated body by holding the laminated body between a diaphragm and the laminating jig, thereby obtaining a solar panel from the laminated body. The laminating jig is curved in a convex manner toward the laminated body.